Oxford masterclass stuns Bolton at Wembley

The Yellows enter the second tier for the first time this century, thanks to a stellar team performance headlined by Josh Murphy's brace

Huw Davies at Wembley

Murphy’s Law dictates that if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. As Josh Murphy ran towards the corner flag to celebrate putting Oxford United 2-0 up after 42 minutes of this League One Play-off Final, Bolton Wanderers fans were left to reflect that, yes, this was definitely going wrong.

It wasn’t meant to be this way. Four seasons under Ian Evatt has brought Bolton automatic promotion from League Two, followed by a 9th-placed finish in League One, then a play-off semi-final and now a play-off final. Perhaps logic dictates that a play-off final defeat therefore had to follow, before promotion next season, but it certainly didn’t feel that way on Wembley Way. Bolton were the favourites here and everyone knew it.

Oxford knew it. They just didn’t care.